Migrant landings down in Italy this year: Government

Rome, Aug 2 (IANS/AKI) A total 95,215 boat migrants reached Italy this year till August 2, against 97,892 over the same period of 2016, Italy's Interior Ministry reported Wednesday amid a lull in mid-summer crossings.

The 2,677 few migrants who landed in Italy in 2017 represents a 2.73 percent drop compared with the same months last year, it said.

A total 10,781 boat migrants arrived in Italy between July 1-30, nearly 13,000 fewer than in the same period of 2016 and 2015, the International Organisation for Migration reported on Tuesday, citing Italian government figures.

The number of deaths on the perilous crossing from North Africa to Italy in July was almost half those recorded in the same month of 2015 and 2016, it said.

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